UAE restaurants, fast-food chains hike prices by up to 25%

Some popular local restaurants and fast-food chains in the UAE have raised prices between five and 25 per cent, Emarat Al Youm newspaper has reported.

People have complained that the restaurants have raised prices since last November to increase profit margins.

Officials of a fast-food chain told Emarat Al Youm they were forced to increase prices of meals due to rising food prices in addition to increased transportation costs and rentals.

The Ministry of Economy said the increase by restaurants was illegal and warned them of fines in the event of irregularities, according to the report.

The ministry said it is considering requests from restaurants to increase prices, but did not give any approval for increases.

However, a field visit to the restaurants and a fast-food chain confirmed that the prices of some meat and poultry meals have been increased.

For instance, the price of 'Shish Tawook' has been hiked by a restaurant chain by Dh2 in Dubai and Sharjah. While the price of chicken broast has been increased to Dh21 from Dh20 and a chicken meal from Dh27 to Dh29.

A restaurant in Dubai also hiked a kebab meal price from Dh20 to Dh22 and grilled ribs of sheep from Dh28 to Dh32 and the price of grilled meat from Dh25 to Dh26.

The fast-food chain raised the price of green salad from Dh10 to Dh11 and chicken salad from Dh14 to Dh15 for the meal. It also increased the price of chicken sandwiches from Dh17 to Dh18.

It raised price of a 'rice dish with chicken' from Dh8 to Dh9 and the price of 'rice with shrimp' from Dh10 to Dh11, while the price of small chicken sandwiches was hiked from Dh4 to Dh5, and fried onion rings from Dh5 to Dh6.